Submerged pumpf



Aug. 2, 1932. G BUTLER 1,870,192

SUBMERGED PUMP Filed May 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l %&M

mvemtoz 1932- c. G. BUTLER 1,870,192

SUBMERGED PUMP Filed May 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. G. BUTLER SUBMERGED PUMP Aug. 2, 1932.

Filed May 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 555-! 'IIIIIIIII/lllllllllllli 2, 1932- c. e. BUTLER 1,870,192

UUUUUUUUUUU M P Filed May 5; 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE G. BUTLER, OI CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE CINCINNLTI CRANK .COIPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO sunmcm rm Application filed n a, 1m. Serial Io. 274,706.

My invention relates to a liquid pump of the intermeshing gear type, capable of a great variety of uses, but, which, from a long period of experimentation, I have found to be especially applicable to the removal from a container, of heavy greases, oils, lubricants, soaps, fats and other materials of this nature which are relatively crude commercial products, forming a r compact mass, generally shipped in containers from which they are not readily removable.

Owing to the structural peculiarity of this device, as well as to the novel principle of its operation, I have chosen to designate the structural embodiment of my invention as a submerged grease pump.

That is to say, in accordance with my basic concept, susceptible of many different concrete embodiments and various modifications of structure or of adaptation to the handling of widely different materials, the pump in general comprises the embodiment of a long tubular member adapted for insertion intosay, a commercial or shipping grease tank, and it is characterized by the provision of an intermeshing pair of pumpin gears on one end of the tubular member riven by a shaft preferably extending through this tube, and the tube is connected with a discharge port of the pumping gears whereby the liquid of the container is passed or forced upwardly through the tube to a suitable discharge at the upper end above the container.

This concept enables the provision of a cheap, simple and durable unit, comprising the tube, with a pair of pumping ears at one end for-submersion into a liquid ody, and a power or hand drive on the other or upper end of the tube for rotating a drive shaft, this upper end of the tube being referably supported upon a plate or bed a apted for straddling the upper end or head of the con tainer.

It is, of course, within the scope of the idea, to employ separate tubes for discharging grease from the gears and for enclosing the shaft, or if desirable, to leave the driving shaft unenclosed.

Another feature of the useful principle involves the securance to the immersed end of the t be of a pair of intermeshin gears whi are peripherally ex osed an which byrotating openly while su merged in -a liq-' nld bod draw or trap successive charges of the liquid into the space between the intermeshmg or mating gear teeth, forcing these entrapped charges endwise between the gear teeth and upwardly and outwardly through the immersion tube. The tube or grease conduit extends approximately axially of the driving gears so that these intermeshing gears are arran ed to rotate openly in the body of the liquid in a plane at ri ht angles to the drive shaft and to the disc arge 1mmersion tube.

In practice, I prefer to use gears of the class herein disclosed and which have been claimed in combination with the tube member, inasmuch as gears of this species have been found to be highly efiicient, and are therefore illustrated as the preferred embodiment and as affording a typical working example.

Another subsidiary, though highly advantageous phase of the invention, relates to the manner of mounting the gears on the lower end of the immersion tube, so that the axes of the gears are not relatively fixed but are yieldingly pressed together and so adapted to close in or back away, depending upon the operating conditions or non-uniform physical characteristics of the commodity handled. Also, and preferably, I provide spring actuated means for unitarily ur ing the intermeshing gears upwardly against the face of the plate on the lower end of the tube, which plate provides a fixeddischarge port comsection of the bottom of the container is much greater than the combined diameters of the pump gears, it is highly desirable to so mount the gears in relation to the axis of the tube that the gears when openly rotating n the body of a liquid can generate a centrifugal force which will swing the gear-carrying foot around the tube in a circular path or sweep along the bottom of the container, so as to operate upon a much greater mass of the material than would be possible if the gears occupied a fixed position in relation to the bot tom of the container and of the tube.

That is to at the gear-carr ing foot is free to float, an the gears there ore are rendered self-feeding and are continuously and automatically brought into operation with different portions of the mass at the bottom of the container.-

This is especially important in the manipulation of heavy greases or crude oils which have no appreciable mobile or flow property, for if the gears were fixed in relation to a definite portion of the container bottom and not free to so wander, after that portion of the liquid which is localized in relation to the ears, had been expelled, the gears would have made a pocket in the mass and so become either inactive or inefiicient. It is this floating or migratory character of the foot at the lower end of the tube that is partly accountable for the efiiciency and wide applicabilit of the pump to the manipulations of liqui or semi-liquid, or even semi-solid bodies, or other bodies of great density, of a nature adapted to be acted upon and broken up by the rotating gear teeth.

The gears are supported on the lower end of this tube so that the axis of the tube or of the driving shaft is at one side of and parallel to the vertical line of gear intermesh, the gears projecting radially from the foot of the tube, thus constituting the long end of a lever arm, or, as stated otherwise, the point of ear intermesh is eccentric to the axis of the riving shaft and hence the centrifu al force of rotation causes the foot of the tu e to travel around the bottom of the container, acting as a self-feeder and constantly contacting fresh masses of material.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompan 'ing'drawings, forming a part of this speci cation, in which Figure 1 is a general view showing the pumptigg device concerned in this invention, moun in relation to a container.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the driving mechanism for the pump.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing substantially the complete device in section, and illustrating the discharge passageway from the point of the pump through to the conduit connection point at the side of the transmission casing at the top of the device.

igure 4 is a fra entary sectional view of the lower end of the discharge tube or shaft conduit illustrating the construction -in the relation of t e discharge port thereto.

igure 8 is a perspective view of one of the gear teeth showing one manner of portin the tooth to properly discharge the fluid en wise from the tooth.

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating another form of tooth for the same purpose.

Referring to the drawings, the container is indicated at 1 and the pum ing unit concerned in this invention is in icated general 1 at 2 as mounted on a plate 3 disposed on t e face of the top closure 4 of the container.

A grease discharge tube 5 depends from the top of the contalner 1 to the lower region of the container. This discharge tube 5 is screwed into the underside of a transmission casing 6, secured to the top of the plate by means of bolts 7.

As shown in Figure 1, the plate 3 straddles an opening in the top 4 of the container, this opening being large enough to permit the insertion of the pump and tube therethrough.

The transmission casing has an extension 8 at one side thereof as a support for a measuring device 9, the extension having therein a passageway continuation 10 from the top of the discharge tube through the measuring device. 1

The power for the submerged pump which is located at the base of the tube is derived from a motor 11 mounted on the top of the plate 3 and having a shaft extension 12 extendin into the transmission casing and 'ourna ed in a pair of bearing brackets 13, the

aring on the opposite side from the motor forming a closure for the shaft end.

An end thrust bearin 14 is disposed against the inner face of e closed bearing and held thereagainst, taking the longitudinal drive thrust through a washer 15 engaging a shaft'shoulder 16 formed by the reduction of the shaft diameter.

A bearing shoulder 17 is also provided on the shaft portion engaging the inner face of the opposing bearing 12.

A worm 18 is formed on the shaft intermediate of the shaft bearin portions and within the casing, this worm being in mesh with a worm ear 19 pinned to the upper end of a pump drlvin shaft 20 depending downwardy through the interior of the tube 5. The gear -pinned to the shaft is hung on a top surface of a bushing or gland 21 secured to the top surface of a central boss traversed by the shaft. This gland 21 disposes packing The shaft 20 at its lower end and in the base of the tube is secured to the sleeve extension of a ear 25 by means of a key 26.

-The shaft 20 t rough the key is merely rotatively connected to the gear and the gear is free to move vertically in relation to the shaft.

The gear is supported in a position against the un er side of a pump b0 y 27 by means of a studded plate 28, the studded plate being resiliently drawn u ward a ainst the under side of the gear an the stud 29 thereof is disposed within the lower end of the central bore of the gear.

The sleeve extension of the gear is journaled within a concentric bore formed in the lower end of the pump body. This last mentioned bore is a decreased continuation of a bore 30 into which the tube extends, the pump body being secured to the tube by means of a screw 31 and a lock nut 32, the screw extending into engagement with a groove 33 formed in the periphery of the tube. Thescrew connection of the body to the tube in this manner permits rotation of the body relative to the tube and also allows translation of the body longitudinally of the tube in order that the body may adjust itself on the tube when it contacts the base of the container 1.

The function of the set screw is to prevent the pump body or the entire foot from dropping ofi the tube when the device is withdrawn from the container or when it is impossible to dispose the foot against the bot tom of the tank. The drawing oil or pumping of the grease from the container is by means of the intermeshing of the power gear 25 with a second gear 34. This second gear 34 is supported by the plate 28 and is centrally journaled by means of a second studded plate 35 having its stud extending downwardly.

A portion of this plate directly above the stud is in engagement with a boss extension 36 extending radially from the pump body.

This second studded plate is drawn toward the center of the pump body by means of resilient connection, providing a snug and positive intermeshin of the gear teeth. The first mentioned studded plate or under sup.- port 28 for the ears maybe described as being circular wit its stud disposed eccentric thereon and having a slot 37 in its mar in diametrically opposite the stud, this s ot providing a clearance for the lower end of the, stud of the second plate.

On each side of the plate and on a line at right angles to the diametric line of the stud and slot are a pair of screws 38, these screws extending from screwthreaded engagement with the plate upwardly and traversing bores Ii)ndthe horizontal flange 39 of the pump A pair of nuts 40 on the upper end of the screw 38 compress a spring 41 against the top face of the flange, and the resultant action is to draw the circular plate upward under spring tension.

The resilient connection of the second gearcarrying plate is in the same manner, the screws in this instance extending through depending bosses 42 formed on each end of [the pump body or at each side of the gears,

the springs bearing against these bosses for drawing the second gear center radially to- 1d ward the center of the shaft 20. The gear teeth ends at the point of intermesh are the two sealingly engaged between the under side of the pump body and the top surface of the plate 28 and the teeth are snugly intermeshed.

This type of mounting also compensates for wear as well as allowing some flexibility in the event that there happen to be solid particles in the grease being fed. If there 3 is a detrimental obstruction in the line of feed, the radially floating bearing permits a by-passing of the grease straight through between the zone of intermesh with no lateral discharge into the port 45 and therefore provides a safety feature. In other words, there is a limit to the pressure developed by the pump dependent'on the strength of springs used and beyond that the pump ceases to function due to the radial spreading of the gears.

A discharge port 45 connects the base end of the tube with the point of gear intermesh, this port extending through the body of the pump. The respective teeth of both gears l are specially formed as shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive. Formation of each tooth consists of a bore 46 extending into one side of the tooth and stopping within the tooth or extending entirely through, and a slot or bores 47 connecting this endwise opening with the crown of the tooth. The teeth of the gears are disposed so that the ported side of the tooth is adjacent to the discharge port 45 previously described and the ports 46 registered therewith when the gears are rotated. The manner of gear intermesh and relation of the gear ports and the discharge port is illustrated in detail in Figure 7. The forming of the teeth may vary and it is intended to include any structure discharging the grease laterally of the teeth ends or pockets formed by intermesh.

As the gears are moved into intermesh a pocket or cavity is formed, this pocket being filled with grease picked up between the spaces between the teeth as they are revolved into intermesh. Continued revolution of the teeth closes this cavity and forces the grease through the crown of the incoming tooth and discharges it endwise from the tooth into the discharge port.

The arrangement of the discharge port 45 is such that the openings of the teeth each come into registry therewith at just the moment that the grease is positively trapped and sealed within the aforementioned cavity by tlrie) intermeshing of the teeth. (See Figure The tendency of the pump body when there is no more grease to be taken up by the gears at a particular point is to swing on the tube, revolvin the outer gear around the driven ear an to thus feed from various points at the base of the container. This revolving of the outer gear of the pump is due to the centrifugal force due to the pressure of the driving gear teeth against the teeth of the second gear. In other words, there is a sort of lever action between the respective gear centers abated somewhat by the device getting under full speed but always present to a suflicient degree to move when there is no grease anchoring the pump.

The outlet port of the device extends from the continuation of the port into which the tube is threaded through the transmission casing through the passageway 10 to a point in the top surface of the extension on the easing and registers with the intake port for the measuring device 9. The details for the measuring device are not disclosed in detail herein inasmuch as it is a commercial article, the outlet port 48 of the device, of course, connecting with a threaded opening 49 at the outer end of the extension to which may be connected any suitable conduit for directing the grease to the desired point.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A pump adapted for operation when submerged in a liquid body, comprising a tubular member for insertion into a container, gear supporting members at one end of said member, a pair of peripherally exposed intermeshing gears rotatably secured between said gear supporting members, means for driving the gears through said tubular member at the other end thereof, said gears being formed with tooth fluid passageways having discharge ports endwise of the gears, whereby the liquid caught between the intermeshing gear teeth is forced axially thereof, the upper of said members having a plate providing a discharge passageway in serial communication with said gear teeth discharge ports and in constant communication with said tubular memebr, means yieldingly holding said gears in intermesh, and means normally pressing said gears toward the plate formed with the fixed discharge port.

2. In a device of the class described, a tubular member for insertion into a liquid container, a pair of peripherally exposed intermeshing pumping gears secured upon one end of said member and arranged to force the liquid upwardly through said member, a gear drive shaft in said member fixed to the axis of one of said gears, shaft rotating means at the other end of said member, and a pump body rotatably secured on the tubular member and carrying the gears whereby the gears on said tubular member float under the influence of gear rotation in relation to the bottom of the container.

3. A pump for operating when submerged in a liquid body, comprising a tubular memher for insertion into a liquid container, a foot rotatively secured to the lower and of said tubular member, a pair of intermeshing pumping gears secured upon said foot and arranged to force the liquid upwardly through said foot and tubular member, a gear drive shaft extending through the tubular member and fixed to one of said gears, the gear-carrying foot thereby rotating under the influence of ear rotation.

4. A gear pump or rotating when submerged in a llquid body and comprising an immersion tube for the discharge of the liquid, a pair of pumping gears secured upon the lower end of said tube and rotating openly in the liquid body in a plane approximately at right angles to the immersion tube, the gear teeth being formed to serially separate liquid charges from the main body and force the same endwise of the gears and upwardly through the immersion tube, a drive shaft fixed to the axis of one of said gears and extending upwardly to a point above the liquid body, and means rotatively supporting the gearsvunitarily in relation to the drive shaft and said tube, enabling the gears to unitarily and automatically revolve under the influence of gear rotation, in relation to the drive shaft.

5. A liquid pump for operating when submerged in a liquid body, comprising an elongated tubular liquid discharge member and a gear drive shaft adapted for insertion in the bottom of the container and to project above, a pair of peripherally exposed intermeshing gears secured upon the lower end of the elongated tubular liquid discharge member, one of the gears being fixed to the drive shaft, the gears being formed and arranged to trap the liquid between mating gear teeth and force the same under pressure endwise of said gears, and means transmitting the liquid expressed from the gears into said elongated tubular liquid discharge member, the gear unit being eccentric in relation to the drive shaft, whereby the pumping gears are fioatingly suspended in the container and movable around the tubular member under the influence of gear rotation.

6. A pump for submerged operation in liquid, comprising a tube for'insertion into the container, a pair of intermeshing gears carried on one end of said tube and pumping into the tube, the teeth being exposed for action on the liquid body, said gears being relatively rotatable and also free to rotate in relation to one of the gear centers, and means for operating the gears from said center.

7. A pump for submerged operation in liquid, comprising a tube for insertion into the container, a pair of intermeshing gears carried on one end of said tube and pumping into the tube, the teeth being exposed for action on the liquid body, said gears being relatively rotatable and also free to rotate in relation to one of the gear centers, and means mounted in said tube for operating the gears from said center extending through and actuated from the other end of said tube.

8. A pump for submer ed operation in liquid, comprising a tube or insertion into the container, a pair of intermeshing gears carried on one end of said tube and pumping into the tube, the teeth being exposed for action on the liquid body, one of said gears revoluble about the other, and means actuated at the other end of the tube above the container for operating said gears.

9. A pump, comprising a power source, a pump body, a driven gear having a sleeve extension journalin said gear in said body, a second ear mes ing with said first gear, a journal or said second gear spring-urged toward the body radially holding said gears in resilient intermesh, a bearing plate attached to the body and spring urged upward- 1y, sealing engaging both gears against the body across the zone of gear intermesh, and said body having a discharge port extending upwardly therethrough from the zone of teeth intermesh.

10. A pump, comprising a power source, a pump body, a gear having driving connection to said power source and having a sleeve extension journaling said gear in said body, a second gear j ournaled relative to said body and meshing with said-first gear, and a bearing plate maintaining said gears on said body, said plate spring-urged upwardly sealingly engaging both gears across the point of intermesh, and said bodv ng a discharge port extending therethrough from the zone of teeth intermesh.

11. A pump, comprising a power source, a pump body, a driven gear having a sleeve extension journaling said gear in said body, a second gear meshing with said first gear, a journal for said second gear spring-urged toward the body radially holding said gears in resilient intermesh, a bearin plate attached to the body engaging both gears against the body over the area of gear intermesh, and said body having a discharge port extending therethrough upwardly from the zone of teeth intermesh.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

CLYDE G. BUTLER. 

